Welcome to the Audio Job Career Guide, giving you our large collection of insights and guides to help you with every step of your life in sound – from choosing a field, finding jobs and building a showreel, to applying for jobs, freelancing and staying & succeeding in sound:
Happy exploring, and best of luck,
– Asbjoern Andersen
Choose a field
There are many ways into working and succeeding in sound – whether it’s in sound for film, games, advertising, podcasts, theater, music or another area. These interviews show what each field involves, which skills you need – and how people landed those jobs in the first place
Getting started
Just starting out? You may need less than you think to get up and running
Portfolio and showreel
Learn how to put together a first showreel (and make it good!), as well as how to build a full game audio portfolio
What employers look for
Hiring managers and senior sound designers explain what they look for in junior, mid-level and senior candidates, and why you should not wait until you feel ready to start looking for work
Applications and interviews
Ideas on how to stand out in a crowded sea of applicants, how screening works, and what to expect in the interview and the pay negotiation
Networking and mentors
Get practical advice on meeting people, building a peer group and finding a mentor
Freelancing, rates and clients
Ideas on how to set a price, find alternatives to unpaid work, and work with game teams as an outside contractor
Staying in sound
Layoffs, burnout and long careers: how you can get through a bad stretch, look after yourself and keep going
Find an audio professional
Soundlister is the place to find audio professionals – pick a profession to see the profiles